Age- and Condition-dependent Mortality of Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) Chicks During a Heavy Rainfall Event

作者：Gach Kamila^*; Janiszewski Tomasz; Wlodarczyk Radoslaw; Lesner Bartosz; Minias Piotr

来源：Waterbirds, 2018, 41(1): 63-67.

DOI：10.1675/063.041.0108

• Common Tern
• extreme weather
• mass-size residuals
• mortality rate
• Sterna hirundo

The aim of this study was to evaluate which factors determined immediate mortality of Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) chicks during a heavy rainfall. On 26 June 2013, a heavy rainfall event was recorded at an inland colony of Common Terns in central Poland that resulted in the death of similar to 30% of the chicks. The highest mortality rate was recorded in the youngest age group (1-8 days). Probability of surviving the rainfall increased 1.47 (95% CI: 1.25-1.83) times with each additional day. There was also a positive relationship between survival probability and mass-size residuals of chicks (beta = 0.17 +/- 0.07, P = 0.025). This study provides evidence for age-and condition-dependent mortality of semi-precocial chicks during an extreme weather event.

• 出版日期2018-3